CHICAGO (Ticker) -- It's official. The Chicago Bulls are the
worst team in the Eastern Conference.

Grant Hill and Jerry Stackhouse toyed with Chicago during a pair
of runs as the Detroit Pistons demolished the six-time NBA
champions, 115-71, handing them their second-worst loss of the
season and guaranteeing them the worst record in the East.

The Bulls are 13-36, two games behind New Jersey, which lost
lost tonight in Washington, with one game left. Their most
lopsided defeat was a 115-68 loss to Orlando on April 2.

Hill and Stackhouse combined for 40 points as the Pistons kept
alive their hopes for fourth place in the East and home-court
advantage in the first round of the playoffs with their sixth
straight win. They trail Atlanta by 1 1/2 games with one to go
but hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Hawks have two games
remaining.

"They have my vote right now," Bulls coach Tim Floyd said of the
Pistons' postseason chances. "I said that before the game I
think they are the darkhorse from the East."

Lindsey Hunter fell a rebound short of a triple-double, with 11
points and 11 rebounds, and Bison Dele scored 13 points for
Detroit, which has won a six straight for the third time this
season.

Hill, who shot 11-of-16, had 12 of his 22 points during a 22-3
run to start the third quarter as the Pistons opened a 76-43
cushion. Hill scored the first six points of the period on two
driving layups and a 16-footer.

"I felt good out there," he said. "I felt good because we are
playing well."

Hill added four rebounds and three assists in 26 minutes. He
was removed with 3 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter and
Detroit leading, 84-52.

"I was disappointed I came out," he said. "I will never feel
that good again."

"We don't want to risk any injury and we've got guys over there
who have worked extremely hard in practice and deserve to play,"
Pistons coach Alvin Gentry said.

The Bulls were within two points early in the second quarter,
but Stackhouse totaled 10 of his 18 points off the bench during
a 16-5 spurt. His free throws with five minutes left in the
half increased the lead to 48-33.

"This was just a game where we wanted to keep the momentum
going," Stackhouse said. "We have been playing well lately, but
we knew Chicago was going to come out and play because they have
been playing well recently."

The Pistons led by at least 12 points after Stackhouse's free
throws. They shot a staggering 64 percent (47-of-73) from the
floor and outrebounded Chicago, 42-26.

"Right now, they are gearing up for the playoffs and
unfortunately, we couldn't find a way to stop them," Bulls
center Bill Wennington said. "Defensively, it wasn't a good
showing."

Detroit recorded its third straight blowout victory against the
Bulls this season. The Pistons won the three games by an
average of more than 34 points.

"I just think we match up well against them and they have a
tough time matching up against Grant," Gentry noted.

Pistons future Hall of Fame guard Joe Dumars scored nine points
in his final game here.

Ron Harper had 17 points and Toni Kukoc and Cory Carr added 12
apiece for the Bulls, who shot 38 percent (27-of-71) from the
floor.

"I cannot even imagine how hard it is for a guy like (Harper)
and Toni, who have experienced so much winning," Floyd said. "To
stay as positive as they have is amazing."

Chicago, which defeated conference-leading Miami, 101-86, on the
road Saturday, finishes the season at home on Wednesday against
Orlando.